Page 13 of Beauty Of Her

“With Julia, I am.” And I was dead serious. “Bridgette, you don’t understand. I actually want to take it slow with her. I want to get to know her.”

“Yeah, yeah. I get it. So now what? Have the two of you spoken?”

“No, not yet. I left a message for her earlier this week, but she hasn’t returned my call.” I couldn’t help the disappointment from seeping into my voice.

“Well, maybe it’s for the best. You don’t want to come off as too desperate.” Bridgette did her best to reassure me, but even I smelled the bullshit through the phone.

“I’m not desperate,” I protested.

“Sure, you’re not,” Bridgette teased. “But seriously, just give her some time. Maybe she’s just busy with her daughters or something.”

“Maybe you’re right,” I agreed. “I’ll just try calling her again in a few days.”

“A few days? Grow a pair and call her when you get off the phone with me.” The sudden disdain injected in Bridge’s voice twisted my face.

“Jeez. What’s with the attitude?” I play-punched a fat tomahawk steak, really wanting to punch the shit out of it over the thought I might be screwing up over here.

“Nothing. But if you wait too long, you’re going to screw it up.” A heavy sigh left her mouth.

“I’m not screwing anything up.” I propped my arm on my hip and caught my reflection in the one mirror in this locker. A little teapot stared back at me, and that was when I realized I wouldn't wait. It might have been a fleeting thought to wait a few days, but suddenly, it wasn’t an option. I needed to hear Julia’s voice. I needed to know she was thinking about me as much as I was thinking about her.

“Brett, you still there?”

“Huh? Oh yeah. I’m here, sorry.” I shook off the drowning thoughts and walked to the door, grabbing a six-pack of beef brisket burgers on my way out.

“I didn’t mean to freak you out.” And there was my sweet cousin, returning with a sugary tone.

“No, it’s fine. Sometimes I need a good kick in the ass,” I smirked, securing the metal door behind me.

“Will you let me know how it goes? And for the record, it’s pretty amazing you ran into Julia like that.”

I stopped short of running into my mom and ducked out of the way. Luckily, she was busy helping our Mrs. Flemmings—one of the market's oldest and most loyal customers. “You think?”

“Yes, idiot. When things like that happen, it’s a sign.”

A sign, I pondered, smiling. It was a great sign, if anything. “I’ll keep you posted. And Bridge? How are you doing?”

“I’m fine. Seriously, I am. Okay?”

I ended the call, taking a deep breath and calming my racing heart. I couldn’t shake off the image of Julia’s smooth lips pressed against mine in the dark theater. This was a new level of intrigue. But now, I needed to take Bridgette’s advice and call her.

I dialed Julia and waited.

“Girls! You'll walk to school if you don’t get down here right now!” I shouted from the kitchen, praying my daughters would listen to me for once. I shoved their matching peanut butter and jelly sandwiches into their backpacks because both refused to buy lunch this week. Unbelievable. I never would have invested in their meal plans if I knew they’d flip-flop each week. The best part of the whole lunch tug-of-war game? Peter wanted nothing to do with it and told me to let them figure it out. But if I did that, my kids would probably starve to death.

Amelia watched me out of the corner of her eye, trying not to smile as she sipped a cappuccino at the kitchen table. “This is amazing.” She moved the red lipstick-stained white cup an inch away from her nose to inhale the sharp aroma.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying it. One day, I swear I’ll be able to have a hot drink in this goddamn house.” I shook my head, clutching the counter’s edge, completely out of breath. I peered at the clock, and it was five minutes to eight. If we didn’t leave this house in ten minutes, everyone would be fucking late for the day. “Seriously, where the hell are they?”

“They’ll be down, Jules. Just sit.” Amelia gestured to the empty chair next to her, and I listened. “So, tell me. This movie. Spill it now.” She lifted her chin, signaling for me to start.

“Is that why you came here this morning?”

“Yes,” Amelia admitted shamelessly. “Now, speak.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, figuring out where to start as I watched Amelia almost jump out of her seat. I sighed, taking a quick sip of my cold black coffee, clearing my throat, and began, “Well, it’s complicated.” Filling Amelia in on how Brett and I met and running into him at the movies was easy, but I knew she wanted the juicy details. “We kissed.”

“And how was it?” Amelia was literally about to fall off her chair.

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